Eagles CB Patrick Robinson has 'terrible' practice

Andrew Kulp | The700Level

7 months ago

Patrick Robinson had a lot in common with the weather at Eagles training camp on Tuesday. Both were awfully toasty.

Robinson struggled mightily to keep up with Eagles receivers, and that doesn't even include Alshon Jeffery or Torrey Smith, who missed practice with injuries. It was the likes of first-year players Shelton Gibson and Marcus Johnson who were leaving the veteran cornerback in their dust.

Afterward, even Robinson had to admit his performance was "terrible."

"I didn't have a good day today, but it's camp," Robinson said following practice. "Sometimes you're going to have a bad day, but you have to bounce back. You have to keep going. Especially as a DB, you have to bounce back. You have to keep doing your best."

Robinson conceded defeat on two deep completions, though it seemed like there were more. Maybe that's because this was not the first time the veteran corner has experienced issues in coverage since his arrival.

It's certainly cause for concern, given Robinson is a prospesctive starter.

"As far as having a bad day, you have to fix those," Robinson said. "If you have a bad day, OK, that's one. Don't have too many of them.

Signed as a free agent in March, Robinson -- who turns 30 in September -- is playing for his fourth team in as many seasons. The former first-round draft pick spent 2016 with the Indianapolis Colts, but was limited to seven games due to injury, and was suspect when he did manage to get on the field for the NFL's 27th-ranked defense.

Perhaps not unrelated, Robinson revealed conditioning may have been a factor on this particular steamy South Philadelphia morning.

"It was kind of hot today," Robinson said. "I got a little fatigued and it got the best of me. That's something that I have to work on, being in great shape, having great technique the whole practice -- not sometimes, not every now and then.

"You have to have great technique and great assignment completion the whole practice."

To be fair, Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz has looked sharp in camp. His accuracy has drastically improved on touch passes down the field, while the supporting cast around him is much better as well.

"He's throwing some good balls," Robinson said. "We would have a good break, and he would throw it where only the receiver could come back and get it on the outside.

"We're trying to get it, but he's throwing some great balls."

It's true, Wentz and the receivers have generally looked better than the secondary. Of course, none of the other corners has been beaten as noticeably or with the frequency Robinson has, especially on deep passes.

When Robinson was signed, the thought process was he might start opposite Jalen Mills, serving as a stopgap until rookies Sidney Jones or Rasul Douglas were ready to play.

That plan looks increasingly uncertain by the day. With the calendar flipping over to August, and the deadline to trim roster from 90 players to 53 only one month away, Robinson has precious little time to turn his summer around and show the Eagles his worth.

"I'm not where I want to me," Robinson said. "I think I might be maybe like a quarter of the way there, to my standards. Because I have a lot of talent, but talent is nothing without skill and discipline, and that's something I'm trying to build."